Legals for October, 3 2025

EPHRATA MAYOR: Oliver vs. Reim

EPHRATA – Two candidates are running for the job of Ephrata Mayor, Steve Oliver and incumbent Bruce Reim. Both were sent identical questions, with a 150-word limit.

MLSD cross country students threatened with firearm

MOSES LAKE — Frontier and Endeavor middle school cross country students were approached by a vehicle whose occupants threatened them with a firearm Tuesday afternoon, according to Moses Lake School District Director of Public Relations Ryan Shannon. “As we understand, law enforcement is actively investigating and nothing has been completely confirmed by law enforcement, but we were told that a vehicle drove up to a group of students and a gun was pointed at the students,” Shannon said. “That is where we are at this point; law enforcement is actively investigating the situation.” All students and staff are safe, and no injuries occurred. The students were en route to return to Frontier Middle School to be reunited with families as of 5 p.m. Tuesday. Around 60 students were participating in the cross-country activity, Shannon said, and all of the parents and guardians of those students will receive a phone call from him explaining the situation. “The safety of our students and staff is the top priority of the Moses Lake School District,” Shannon said. “Regarding the situation this afternoon, we will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement and provide all information to the public as it becomes available to us.”

Live grenade discovered in family’s front yard

HARTLINE – Grant County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a residence in 600 block of Willard Street in Hartline Monday after a three-year-old boy found a live hand grenade in his family’s front yard.

Port of Ephrata to host aerial applicators fly-in

EPHRATA — The Port of Ephrata will serve as the venue for the third annual fly-in pancake breakfast, hosted by the Association of Washington Aerial Applicators, on Saturday, Oct. 4. This event is set to showcase the role aerial applicators play in Washington’s agricultural industry while offering community members an engaging opportunity to learn about low-level aviation. The pancake breakfast will kick off at 8 a.m. and is priced at $20 per person, with children under 10 eating free. The event is open to the public at no charge, said Dave Lanman, executive director of the Port of Ephrata

MOSES LAKE CITY COUNCIL: Martinez vs. Davis

MOSES LAKE — Jeremy Davis is challenging incumbent Deanna Martinez for Position 1 on the Moses Lake City Council. Both candidates were sent identical questions with a 150-word limit.

Favored Farmhouse expanding services

MOSES LAKE – The Favored Farmhouse coffee shop is expanding its services with plans for a new food truck court and a recurring night market. “We’ve owned the farmhouse for about seven years and originally the plan was to just help propel other small businesses,” said Daphne Martinez, who owns Favored Farmhouse with her husband Derek.

Teachers address MLSD elementary schedules, activities

MOSES LAKE – At the Moses Lake School District Board meeting on September 18, concerns were brought to the board from district staff and community members regarding lingering reductions in elementary school schedules and the implications for student learning, particularly in areas such as physical education, music, library access and special education services.

CAST for Kids ignites a love of fishing

MOSES LAKE – The Catch a Special Thrill for Kids foundation is a nonprofit public charity that helps children who have special needs and disadvantages enjoy a day of fishing. The organization has been around since 1991 and has since expanded to 26 states, including Washington. “I think these kids deserve to be celebrated and included,” said Melissa McCalmant, CAST’s Western Operations Manager and NW/Rocky Mtn. West Regional Manager. “Just spending a day with them and watching the excitement on their face, it’s just life-changing.”

OTHELLO MAYOR: Logan vs. Johnson

OTHELLO — Two candidates are running for the job of Othello Mayor, Ken Johnson and incumbent Shawn Logan. Both were sent identical questions, with a 150-word limit. Johnson did not submit any answers.

QUINCY CITY COUNCIL POSITION 4 Q&A: Royer vs. Esparza

QUINCY — Andrew Royer, the incumbent, and Rey Esparza are running for Position 4 on the Quincy City Council. The Columbia Basin Herald provided identical questions to each candidate, including a word limit. Esparza did not respond to several requests for comment.

WDFW takes over Beezley Hills Preserve

EPHRATA – In a move for conservation efforts in Washington State, the Nature Conservancy has transferred ownership of the 9,000-acre Beezley Hills Preserve to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The goal is to bolster habitat conservation efforts, particularly for endangered species such as the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit, and provide opportunities for low-impact public recreation, according to WDFW Communications Contact Nicole Jordan.

Man wanted on Idaho charges arrested near Othello

OTHELLO — A man wanted on grand theft charges in Idaho was arrested Friday afternoon near Othello.

MLPD stops alleged drug shipment in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE – On Friday, Moses Lake Street Crimes intercepted an alleged shipment of drugs traveling through Moses Lake, according to a statement from the Moses Lake Police Department. At around 3 a.m. Friday, the Moses Lake Tactical Response Team initiated a vehicle takedown of a subject in the Winco parking lot.

BASIN EVENTS: Sept. 19-27

COLUMBIA BASIN — Fall officially begins next week and there’s a lot going on in the Columbia Basin. Here are a few things to enjoy:

Warden welcomes new police chief: Jeff Gann

WARDEN – The Warden Police Department has a new leader, Chief Jeff Gann, an officer with nearly two decades of law enforcement experience. Gann started his job Monday and will be officially sworn in by the mayor during the Sept. 23 regular council meeting. Following a career at the Castle Rock Police Department, he honed his skills in a variety of roles, including as a defensive tactics' instructor and as a corporal, he said.

Local Job Corps students keep wildfire crews functioning

MOSES LAKE — Firefighters are battling fires across Washington – 20 of them Tuesday morning – but they’re not doing it alone. Back at the fire camp, at a safe distance from the fire, Job Corps students are working to ensure the firefighters have everything they need.

Ephrata’s new booster pump station finished

EPHRATA — City officials announced Wednesday that the long-awaited Booster Pump Station located at B Street and Division is now operational. This is part of a comprehensive water system improvement initiative, which also includes enhancements to the city’s water tower infrastructure.

Ephrata School District considering spring 2026 bond

EPHRATA — After more than a year and a half of work, the Ephrata School District’s District Facility Study Group has decided to recommend putting a $75 million bond package on the February 2026 ballot. The goal of the workgroup, said Ephrata School District Superintendent Ken Murray, was to ensure all of Ephrata’s students had quality learning spaces. “Primarily, people had an opportunity to see what we were able to accomplish with our 2019 bond and the facilities that are in place at one of our elementaries, and then, obviously, at Ephrata Middle School,” Murray said. “And one of the real goals, initially, was they saw how safe those facilities are. They saw how (those facilities incorporate) current trends in terms of the types of spaces that you could create for students.” Murray said the bond package, if approved, would have a tax bill impact but allow the district to remodel and expand Ephrata High School, replace Grant Elementary and Parkway Intermediate schools and provide a better Performing Arts Center for students. Some of the work had initially been approved by voters in 2019 along with funding, but inflation caused by the pandemic and other factors caused their cancelation and the funding was zeroed out through a process called defeasement.

Community learning centers coming to Othello schools

OTHELLO — The Othello School District will be implementing new before-school and after-school programs for elementary and middle school students with the help of a five-year, $2.5 million federal grant. Josh Meek, OSD executive director of teaching and learning, said the “community learning centers” will start in January 2026.